Preparing for the CTRN (Certified Transport Registered Nurse) exam? Pharmacology is one of the areas our deck drills hardest: 90 of its 1050 flashcards focus on pharmacology, covering topics like Giapreza, Sodium Bicarbonate, Tricyclic Antidepressants. Try the sample questions below — every card is a real question-and-answer pair from the full deck.
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A 70kg septic patient with a BP of 82/44 requires RSI. Why is Etomidate traditionally preferred over Propofol in this scenario?
Show answer →Etomidate (0.3 mg/kg) is preferred due to its hemodynamic neutrality. It has minimal effect on heart rate, MAP, and CO. Propofol causes significant vasodilation and myocardial depression, which can lead to cardiovascular collapse in shock states. CTRN Tip: While Etomidate is hemodynamically stable, be aware of its potential for transient adrenal suppression via inhibition of 11-beta-hydroxylase, though a single RSI dose is rarely clinically significant in the acute transport setting.
A patient with a known Factor VIII deficiency (Hemophilia A) is bleeding post-trauma. What is the preferred treatment if specific factor concentrates are unavailable?
Show answer →Cryoprecipitate. While Factor VIII concentrates are the gold standard, Cryoprecipitate contains significant amounts of Factor VIII and is the fallback in emergency transport settings. BCEN Tip: Hemophilia A is Factor VIII deficiency; Hemophilia B (Christmas Disease) is Factor IX deficiency. FFP can be used but requires high volumes to achieve therapeutic factor levels.
A patient in distributive shock is unresponsive to high-dose Norepinephrine and Vasopressin. Angiotensin II (Giapreza) is initiated. What mandatory co-intervention is required per 2026 safety standards?
Show answer →Venous and arterial thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is mandatory. Angiotensin II is associated with a significantly increased risk of thrombotic events. Clinical Reasoning: Angiotensin II works via the RAAS system, causing potent vasoconstriction and aldosterone release. It is used for high-output shock where other receptors are saturated or downregulated. BCEN tests this new agent's specific side effect profile, which differs significantly from adrenergic agents.
When administering Calcium for CCB toxicity via a peripheral IV during flight, which preparation is preferred and what is the primary risk of the alternative?
Show answer →Calcium Gluconate is preferred for peripheral administration. Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) provides 3x more elemental calcium but is highly caustic; extravasation can cause severe tissue necrosis and sloughing. CTRN Transport Tip: If a central line is available, CaCl2 is preferred for rapid correction of hypotension. Ratio: 1g CaCl2 ≈ 3g Ca Gluconate.
What is the primary mechanism of action by which Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) reverses the cardiotoxic effects of Tricyclic Antidepressants during transport?
Show answer →Sodium Bicarbonate works through two distinct mechanisms: 1. Sodium Loading: It increases the extracellular sodium concentration, which helps overcome the competitive blockade of the fast inward sodium channels in the myocardium. 2. Alkalinization: Increasing the serum pH (target 7.45–7.55) promotes the dissociation of the TCA from the sodium channels and increases protein binding of the drug, which decreases the amount of active, free drug in the plasma. Note: For CTRN exams, remember that both the sodium bolus and the pH change are therapeutic.
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Try 30 free CTRN cards firstThe full CTRN deck contains 1050 flashcards, and 90 of them focus on pharmacology. This page shows 5 free samples.
Our CTRN deck dedicates 90 of 1050 cards (9%) to pharmacology — always cross-check the official BCEN exam outline for the current blueprint weighting.
Yes — the samples on this page are free, and the CTRN preview page has 30 more free cards. Full access to all 1050 cards is a one-time $7.
Assessment
30 cards
Basics
60 cards
Diagnostics
40 cards
Management
250 cards
Pathology
350 cards
Physiology
40 cards
Procedures
150 cards
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